Sunderland terminate another expensive player's contract - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45629656. Ndong hasn't even turned up this season. They paid about £20 million for him and Djilobodgi. Outrageous and disrespectful behaviour.

Gary Irvine is 33 now but could do a decent job this season. There are not many free agents who would be affordable.
A Transfermkt search came up with Brendan Maloney, 29. He has been a regular starter Northampton Town in League One in the last two seasons.

Spot on. The price that the SFA paid Queens Park for Hampden reflects its development value. IIRC Sevco bought Ibrox from the administrators for a similar sum. The big issue is funding the necessary modernisation, e.g. debentures, selling hospitality boxes, the Scottish Government or the National Lottery.